EDITORIAL. 



403 



distance from Toronto are groing to exhibit it 

 will be necessary for most of tliem to get tlieir 

 material ready and be in Toronto on the Sab- 

 bath. The present arrangement gives Toronto 

 exhibitors an advantage. Can not the time set 

 for the placing of exhibits by outsiders be ex- 

 tended ? 



The Southern Pacific Railway Company, of 

 California, is evidently a good friend of the 

 fruit growers of that state, judging by a little 

 booklet, entitled " Eat California Fruit," re- 

 cently placed in circulation by the company. It 

 is neatly gotten up and should prove a splendid 

 advertisement of the fruit of that state. After 

 devoting some pages to describing " Why Cali- 

 fornia Fruits Are Best," ' several interesting 

 chapters tell how the fruits can be prepared for 

 the table; and give numerous recipes for their 

 use. In view of the great name our Canadian 

 fruit is gaining at the St. Louis Exposition is 

 there not a good opening for missionary work 

 of this nature on the part of our Canadian rail- 

 ways ? However, if they will only reduce 

 their freight rates we won't press this point. 



We hope the readers of The Horticulturist 

 are noticing the marked improvement that is 

 taking place in our advertising columns. The 

 advertisements in the August issue of Th(e 

 Horticulturist were the heaviest and most 

 valuable in the history of the magazinq^ and 

 this month the record is again broken. If the 

 advertisements continue to increase, as we ex- 

 pect they will, more pages will soon have to be 

 added, and our readers will receive their share 

 of the benefit. Help us to make further im- 

 provements by patronizing our advertisers aud 

 telling them you saw_ their advertisement in 

 The Horticulturist. They are all reliable men 

 and will treat you honoralaly. 



One branch of the fruit, flower and honey 

 show which cannot be made too prominent is 

 the educational features. The show will fall 

 short of its objects if it does not lead to ja 

 greater uemand for all three of the principal 

 products it is being held to advertise, viz., fruit, 

 flowers and honey. This is particularly true 

 of the fruit exhibits. Printed matter naming 

 and describing each variety of fruit, with its 

 season and special qualities, will need to be dis- 

 tributed freely. Once consumers can learn what 

 varieties of fruit will best suit their purposes 

 a marked increase in the demand may be looked 

 for. 



The suggestion that has been made that the 

 Ontario government should undertake a few 

 experiments in South Essex in the raising of 

 vegetables for the early markets seems a good 

 one. A more or less marked increase in the 

 extent of this business may be expected. Ex- 

 periments at this period, to ascertain the best 

 kind of greenhouses and cotton frames, the 

 most satisfactory systems of heating and 

 ventilation, etc., may be of great value to many 

 in the near future. 



The members of the Canadian Horticultural 

 Association are to /be congratulated on the suc- 

 cess of their recent annual convention in 

 Ottawa. Such gatherings are a benefit not 

 only to those who attend but to the trade at 

 large. The excellent financial statement pre- 

 sented speaks well for the management in the 

 past. May the association grow and prosper. 



Fruit Conditions in the United States 



Plums in the United States are not half a 

 crop ; pears about two-thirds, both in fine 

 condition at present. Michigan has one-third 

 of a crop of peaches, Delaware half a crop, 

 Maryland and Tennessee one-half, and New 

 iork two-thirds of a full crop. Apples are 

 everywhere. The United States, taken as a 

 whole, will have one-fifth more than in 1903, 

 California a lighter crop, Missouri and Kansas, 

 while having double the yield of 1903, still will 

 not have one-quarter of a supposed full crop. 

 New England has more than last season, while 

 New York has. as many. Low prices must pre- 

 vail on apples. — (A. Warren Patch, Sec'y Na- 

 tional League of Commission Merchants, Bos- 

 ton, iMass. 



Our apple prospects in the .States, taken as 

 a whole, are for a full average crop, with a 

 larger production than in 1903. Judged from 

 present indications tlie quality of the late fall 

 and winter fruit will be fine. Summer apples 

 are abundant, of an excellent grade, and prices 

 low. The pear crop is fair, with early varie- 

 ties plentiful and low prices. The southern 

 peach belt is finishing up iby far the largest 

 peach crop they have ever grown, while in 

 northern sections the crop will be less than an 

 average. Plums are in large supply, and low 

 prices prevail, with a prospect for improvement 

 on late varieties. — (C. H. Weaver, Pres. Inter- 

 national Apple Shippers' Ass'n. 



Liberal Prizes at Ottawa Exhibition 



The Central Canada Fair, at Ottawa, will be 

 held September 16 to 24 this year, immediately 

 after the London exhibition. This, as is pretty 

 generally known, is a high class exhibition and 

 is worthy of patronage. The agricultural and 

 horticultural departments are well looked after, 

 every facility being afforded exhibits. The 

 building for the displays in these lines is a 

 splendid one and the prizes are most liberal; 

 The premiums in the agricultural department 

 include a gold medal or $20 as a special prize, 

 and there are also competitions for special 

 prizes by the Massey-Harris Co. 



In the horticultural department there are also 

 special prizes of gold medals. The directors 

 are re-arranging the horticultural building with 

 a view of making the display the best in the 

 exhibition's history. Exhibitors at the Ottawa 

 show have always been well pleased with their 

 treatment, so that those who have not been 

 there are assured of satisfaction if they attend. 

 The secretary, Mr. E. McMahon, will forward a 

 prize list and any other information desired 

 upon application. 



